Art was born on September 7, 1922 in a house located where the motel lobby is now. Back then, before the pool was added, the land sloped away and Art built a small ski jump, unknowingly altering his life’s path. By the age of 10, Art won his first ski jumping award in the 14 and under class, which is located in the lobby trophy case lower center.

By age 17, Art earned a spot on the Olympic team for the 1940 Olympics, to be held in Japan. However, due to Japan’s involvement in WW2, the 1940 games were not held. In 1943, with no end in site for the war, Art enlisted in the Army Air Corps and flew as a bombardier on B-24s. He was discharged at the end of the war in 1946 with the rank of Captain and returned home to acquire his childhood home shortly before his father passed away.

After his discharge, Art went back to ski jumping and in 1947, made the 1948 Olympic team. In late 1947, at a meet in the Midwest, Art out-jumped the landing hill and punched through the soft snow at the bottom, resulting in a fall that damaged the ligaments and tendons in his right knee. Back then knees were not as well known as today and doctors put Art in a cast, hoping things would heal. Not to be outdone by injury, Art had a local doctor cut a hole in the knee of the cast and still competed in the 1948 games.

Art went on to compete in the 1952-1956 Olympics and made the team in 1959 for the 1960 Olympics. However, due to his past injuries, Art decided to give up his Olympic spot to the next in line.

In 1950, Art met and married Helen McCutcheon and started both the motel business and a family. They had three children: Jackie, Art, and Alexis.

The 1960 Olympic Games were the first to be covered by television and Art went along with CBS as a color commentator. In 1961, Rune Aldridge started ABC's Wide World of Sports and Art was recruited as a commentator. Art did ski jumping commentary for the next 20 years, commentating every World Ski Jumping Championship and Winter Olympic Games since 1960 on TV, plus an average of 6 ski jumping events every winter. He continued until ABC’s Wide World of Sports ended in 1981.

1963: Inducted into the Ski Hall of Fame

Olympic Bid Committee and Sports Council since 1960 – Vice President of Sports Council

1962 – 1964, 1967 – 1969, 1973 – 1975: On The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

1962 – 1964, 1967 – 1969, 1973 – 1975: on The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

1971: Site Committee and Citizens Advisory Committee for Lake Placid Central School

When the Olympics came to Lake Placid in February of 1980, Art decided to try to keep all 40 rooms open for the Games. Out of 40 rooms, only 8 were winterized (insulated). It just so happened that it was a mild winter in 1980, so things worked out well for the motel.

Art married Dorothee Griessler in 1998.

Art lived on the property until his death in 2004.

On June 13th, 2008 a life-size bronze statue of Art was placed at the bottom of the 120-meter Ski Jump, honoring his life, dedication to the sport, and accomplishments.